College of the Ozarks hosts annual Celebration of Student Scholarship, Research, and Creative Work  

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — In May, College of the Ozarks hosted its annual Celebration of Student Scholarship, Research, and Creative Work at The Keeter Center. Featuring projects from 11 areas of study, select departments showcased student work, recognizing their academic excellence and personal achievement.

Students with various majors presented personal research accumulated throughout their college careers. Departments that participated included the following: animal science, applied nutrition, behavioral science, biology, business, chemistry, computer science, engineering, horticulture, nursing, and physical education.

The purpose of the Celebration of Scholarship is to highlight the research and projects completed by College of the Ozarks students over the past year. It is designed for both internal and external audiences and held at The Keeter Center to provide easy access to those from off campus. The chemistry department at the College started with student poster presentations over 30 years ago, with other departments gradually joining.

“The Celebration of Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show off all their hard work to the campus community,” said Dr. Jeffrey Otey, professor of engineering at College of the Ozarks. “It encourages them to defend their design decisions and gain confidence in their professional skill set as they enter the workplace.”

Engineering Student Showcase Capstone Design Projects

“Engineering had two teams providing poster presentations this year,” Otey said. “One was for a dune buggy, built from scratch. The dune buggy team was divided into groups that dealt with the powertrain, suspension, project management, and special systems. The other team designed a solar battery pack for Designs for Hope, a missionary outreach group that uses technology to spread the Gospel.”

These projects allowed students within the engineering discipline to showcase the culmination of their work throughout the engineering program to regional employers and to utilize skills in problem-solving to assist in the work of the Gospel.

Local and regional businesses participate in Celebration of Scholarship

Many industry professionals, called “industry partners,” provide real-world feedback and form relationships with the professors and students during this event. Some are alumni of the program, others are professionals who work for organizations and hire students for internships and full-time employment. Industry partners listen to the presentations and provide honest, technical feedback to the students. They also ask questions that are designed to challenge the presenter’s ability to explain the technical aspects of their project.

This year, the companies that attended the Celebration of Student Scholarship included:

• Abbott
• Algolia
• American National Insurance
• Baton Pass
• Big Cedar
• Classy Llama
• CNH Industrial
• Reman
• College of the Ozarks
• CrossBreed Holsters
• Exelon
• FedEx
• Fig Tree Books and More
• Forvis
• JB Hunt
• Kyndryl
• NetSmart
• O’Reilly Auto Parts
• ShadowDragon
• ZeroSum

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and financial responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest and No. 1 Best Value Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-2024 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2023. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award 2023 and the Best of the Best and Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus. Follow College of the Ozarks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/collegeoftheozarks , on Instagram, @collegeoftheozarks, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/school/college-of-the-ozarks/, or on X,  @CofOHardWorkU.